Non-fault accident with foreign driver
Discussion
Our car was scraped in a hotel car park yesterday by an NL plated lease car. The driver has left a note (for which I'm very grateful!) and we've since completed an 'agreed state of facts'.
Our car is a 1 Series with some warranty remaining on it and I'm keen for it to be repaired by BMW's bodyshop, who I'm assuming will be 'out of network' for our insurer.
I'm trying to work out the right claims route.
It sounds like if we go through our insurer, we have to pay £200 to go out of network and wait while they recover costs from the Dutch insurer.
If we go through BMW Accident Assistance, we avoid that cost. We have no intention of taking a credit hire courtesy car; our car drives fine so we avoid the excessive fees in that respect.
Are there any other risks / benefits to either claim route?
Our car is a 1 Series with some warranty remaining on it and I'm keen for it to be repaired by BMW's bodyshop, who I'm assuming will be 'out of network' for our insurer.
I'm trying to work out the right claims route.
It sounds like if we go through our insurer, we have to pay £200 to go out of network and wait while they recover costs from the Dutch insurer.
If we go through BMW Accident Assistance, we avoid that cost. We have no intention of taking a credit hire courtesy car; our car drives fine so we avoid the excessive fees in that respect.
Are there any other risks / benefits to either claim route?
davek_964 said:
Why do you assume it will be out of network?
When I crashed my car a few years ago, Admirals repairer was the official body shop for my make of car.
In fairness, a presumption I made based on our insurance being part of Direct Line Group, and expecting BMW's bodyshop costs to be high.When I crashed my car a few years ago, Admirals repairer was the official body shop for my make of car.
I've also read the claim will likely take a long time since it's cross-country. I know AMCs are 'the devil' around here, but this seems like a way to offload stress and being out of pocket for us in a drawn out process.
Simbu said:
davek_964 said:
Why do you assume it will be out of network?
When I crashed my car a few years ago, Admirals repairer was the official body shop for my make of car.
In fairness, a presumption I made based on our insurance being part of Direct Line Group, and expecting BMW's bodyshop costs to be high.When I crashed my car a few years ago, Admirals repairer was the official body shop for my make of car.
Direct Line may be different of course but plenty of insurers do handle things properly.
Well having spoken to our insurer they want £650 for the claim and out of network repair cost, and an estimate from BMW for the repair costs.
I've asked them to hold off on submitting a claim until we work out how to best proceed. Not particularly happy with that kind of money tied up while they faff about.
I've asked them to hold off on submitting a claim until we work out how to best proceed. Not particularly happy with that kind of money tied up while they faff about.
Simbu said:
Well having spoken to our insurer they want £650 for the claim and out of network repair cost, and an estimate from BMW for the repair costs.
This doesn't sound right. What do you mean they want £650 for the claim? Is that your excess? You're entitled to get your car repaired wherever you want, although often they will want 3 quotes to make sure your preferred repairer isn't taking the piss. When this happened to me I pointed out that the three nearest BMW dealers were all owned by the same group so there seemed little point in visiting all of them, and that was accepted. They still didn't do the repair properly and I had to take it back...
carl_w said:
This doesn't sound right. What do you mean they want £650 for the claim? Is that your excess?
It's a combination of voluntary and compulsory excess, and an additional excess for wanting an non-approved repairer fix the damage. They will also refuse a courtesy car (not an issue since it's cosmetic damage).It's frustrating to navigate and places bankrolling of the claim on a non-fault party. Little surprise AMCs have become popular.
My understanding is that going through an AMC essentially gets rid of the up-front excess since they claim directly from the 3rd party insurer. But they won't make the usual credit hire filthy profits since we don't need a courtesy car. Maybe they won't take the claim on since the value of the claim is only bodyshop repair.
LRDefender said:
How much would it cost if you got the repair carried out without getting insurance companies involved? Get a quote and present it to your new Dutch friends.
It's something I considered, but the Dutch car is a lease so he will have to report it. It'll then get back to MID and then it's failure to declare etc.Not worth the risk for us. My wife is in a "whiter than white" type job when it comes to legal stuff.
Simbu said:
It's a combination of voluntary and compulsory excess, and an additional excess for wanting an non-approved repairer fix the damage. They will also refuse a courtesy car (not an issue since it's cosmetic damage).
Well I've never heard of this additional excess for wanting a non-approved repairer. Of course they won't provide a courtesy car but maybe the repairer will? If the third party is at fault, these excesses will eventually be refunded once they are claimed from the third party's insurer.carl_w said:
Well I've never heard of this additional excess for wanting a non-approved repairer. Of course they won't provide a courtesy car but maybe the repairer will? If the third party is at fault, these excesses will eventually be refunded once they are claimed from the third party's insurer.
They're increasingly common with larger insurers. UK Insurance underwriters and Admiral at least seem to like to do it. I suspect it's a way to push people into their own repair network with a lower initial cost.A lesson learned for next time we take a policy out!
Simbu said:
They're increasingly common with larger insurers. UK Insurance underwriters and Admiral at least seem to like to do it. I suspect it's a way to push people into their own repair network with a lower initial cost.
A lesson learned for next time we take a policy out!
It's more or less standard now - insurers like LV and Aviva charge it. It's £500 on some Aviva policies.A lesson learned for next time we take a policy out!
Simbu said:
If we go through BMW Accident Assistance, we avoid that cost. We have no intention of taking a credit hire courtesy car; our car drives fine so we avoid the excessive fees in that respect.
Have you spoken to them? I've no idea, but wonder if they'd be less than keen to take on a small value job against a foreign insurer, especially if you don't want a credit hire car.If they'll do it, then it sounds like the most straightforward option.
Simbu said:
Well having spoken to our insurer they want £650 for the claim and out of network repair cost, and an estimate from BMW for the repair costs.
I've asked them to hold off on submitting a claim until we work out how to best proceed. Not particularly happy with that kind of money tied up while they faff about.
If you are keen for BMW to repair it, maybe you can put a value on that?I've asked them to hold off on submitting a claim until we work out how to best proceed. Not particularly happy with that kind of money tied up while they faff about.
Personally I would get a quote from my preferred repairer, then I'd know where to start.
If you plan to keep the car long term, it might be better in the long run to be a few hundred quid out of pocket and have a repair you are happy with.
If you're planning to move the car on in a couple of years, a good enough repair at lowest cost and maybe change cars sooner than you'd previously planned.
If you've got £25k tied up in a car, £650 is leeway in negotiating its value. If it's a lower value car, £650 becomes a significant slice.
If you drive cars you like, you have to take £650 on the chin now and then. Despite it being the other guy's fault, it's happened and can't be undone.
You have to move forward balancing money against grief.
Simbu said:
LRDefender said:
How much would it cost if you got the repair carried out without getting insurance companies involved? Get a quote and present it to your new Dutch friends.
It's something I considered, but the Dutch car is a lease so he will have to report it. It'll then get back to MID and then it's failure to declare etc.Not worth the risk for us. My wife is in a "whiter than white" type job when it comes to legal stuff.
Simbu said:
carl_w said:
Well I've never heard of this additional excess for wanting a non-approved repairer. Of course they won't provide a courtesy car but maybe the repairer will? If the third party is at fault, these excesses will eventually be refunded once they are claimed from the third party's insurer.
They're increasingly common with larger insurers. UK Insurance underwriters and Admiral at least seem to like to do it. I suspect it's a way to push people into their own repair network with a lower initial cost.A lesson learned for next time we take a policy out!
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